Subject: {FIRSTNAME}, here's how you go about Doing It On Your Own ...

Hello {FIRSTNAME},

Thank you for subscribing to my Vacation Cruising ecourse! In this ecourse you'll learn all about:

1. Part 1 - A Word About Travel Agents. 
2. Part 2 - Doing It On Your Own.
3. Part 3 - A Simple Plan.
4. Part 4 - To Insure Proper Service.
5. Part 5 - Getting Your Drink On!

Let's go ahead & get started today with "Part 2 - Doing It On Your Own".

Part 2 - Doing It On Your Own
============================
Start with research.  We're assuming you don't have a particular cruise line in mind, but if you do, start with their web site.  If you don't care whether you cruise on Carnival or Ambassador, do a quick web search for cruise deals and you'll find tons of places that will give you information on what they have to offer.  There are three web sites we have found that might help guide you:

cruise-addicts.com,
cruisestateroom.com,
cruisecritic.com

You will have a lot of options to consider when deciding on your cruise, which we will outline in this chapter.

One such option is taking a theme cruise.  What exactly is a theme cruise, you ask? It is a cruise booked around a certain theme that could focus on a particular interest such as murder mystery, sports, music styles, etc.  The cruise line may provide special events and lectures for you to attend revolving around the theme.  Some theme cruises have celebrities along for the ride giving you the chance to rub elbows with the rich and famous.  If you can think of a theme that interests people, they probably have a cruise to match it.
 
A theme cruise can be great fun if you pick the right theme for you. Check to see if a cruise line offers a theme cruise that matches your interest. You'll also want to see if the cruise you are going to book has a theme or possibly a large group joining your cruise. You might not want to spend your vacation being the odd man out because you don't like the theme or because you're not part of the large group.

You may want to check out a group cruise.  This isn't necessarily you getting together a bunch of people and planning a cruise with them.  There are some groups out there that have secured special, low rates for large groups of people.  You don't even have to know the people you're cruising with.  

You can find these group cruises in various places.  Try looking at an Internet chat board for cruisers.  They often have postings on there for groups who have secured such rates, and you can save a lot of money by booking with them instead of on your own. 

Next time we'll be discussing alittle about "A Simple Plan".

For more information about this part of Doing It On Your Own, please refer to my definitive guide to Vacation Cruising at <YOUR WEBSITE URL>

Take Care,
<YOUR NAME>
<WEBSITE>